Tabulating machine



Sept. 21, 1937. a. M. DURFEE 2,093,551

TABULATING MACHINE Filed July 17, 1953 T88 CLUTCH RE MOTOR F '4 RESET cwrcn 36 RESET CONTROL AITOR'NEY Patented Sept. 21, 1937 UNITED STATES TABULATING MACHINE Benjamin Mathew Durfee, Becou, near Bruyerea,

France, assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation oi New York Application July 17, 1933, Serlal No. 680,761

3Ciaims.

This invention relates to accounting machines and more particularly to automatic control systems for record controlled tabulating machines.

Record controlled tabulators are designed to add, list and print totals of items automatically entered in the machine from control record cards on which the items are represented by perforate index points located difl'erentially from the leading edge of the card in the several card columns, each column usually representing one character which may be either a number or an alphabetical character.

In order to effectthis automatic control previ ous machines usually employed a double set of brushes, upper and lower, a group of contacts wired in series and electromagnets wired in series between the upper brushes and lower brushes to operate the contacts.

The present invention contemplates arranging the electromagnets in parallel with the upper brushes and in series with the lower brushes, which makes possible the elimination of a series of contacts usually placed in series with the magnets and the upper and lower brushes, thus reducing the cost of production of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to simplify automatic controls on electric tabulators.

These and incidental objects which will be pointed out hereinafter will be clear from the following detailed description which should be read in connection with the accompanying drawing which represents a circuit diagram of an electric tabulator for analyzing the well-known Hollerith type of perforated record cards.

While, as stated above, the system is applicable to existing machines operating in connection with single hole or combinational hole systems, it has been shown applied to a machine for handling cards of the single index point type. The particular type of machine has no bearing on the instant invention as any form of machine such as the well known Hollerith tabulator disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 1,822,594, issued September 8, 1931, to C. D. Lake in which single or combination hole cards are analyzed would serve for illustrative purposes.

Referring to the drawing, the tabulator is adapted to be driven on tabulating operations by a motor TM and on reset operations by a reset motor RM under the control of the usual cam controlled and relay controlled circuits.

When the machine is operated by the tabulating machine motor TM, the usual tabulating cards bearing differentially arranged index points or perforations, are fed past a set of upper analyz- Franoe January 4, 1938 ing brushes U3 and then, exactly one card cycle later the cards are fed past lower analyzing brushes LB.

The corresponding upper and lower brushes are connected by wires 3 and resistances l. Magnets 2 are wired in parallel with the upper brushes and in series with the resistances 4 and the lower brushes.

As long as the perforations representing the group classification remains the same on the card under the upper brushes and the card under the lower brushes, a circuit is formed by the wire I and the resistance 4 having a much lower resistance than that of the circuit including one of the magnets 2 and the wire 5 which connects all of the magnets 2 to the line wire 9. The result is that the current passing through the magnet 2 is not sumcient to effect the opening of the corresponding contacts I, which contacts are normally closed.

However, if the perforations representing the group classifications on the card under the upper brushes differs from the group classification perforations on the card under the lower brushes one or more of the circuits comprising wires 3 and resistances 4 remain open, consequently all of the current will pass through the wire 5 and one or more of the magnets 2. This energizes these magnets which open their corresponding contacts i.

The device is arranged to automatically stop the tabulating machine and to start a resetting and total printing operation upon a change of group classification either in the minor group, intermediate group or major group. Assuming, for example, thatlthe minor control only is being used, a plug connection is made between the socket 6 and one of the sockets I, the particular socket I selected depending on the number of denominational orders in the group indicating field of the card. A switch 8 is then opened. I

As is customary in machines of this type, a resetting cperation is made before tabulating operations are commenced to insure that the accumulators are standing at zero. During the resetting operation contacts LPS are closed mcmen tarily by means of a cam on the reset shaft (not shown), setting up av circuit from the line 9, wire Ill, contacts LPS, wire I2, relay coil I! of the minor control, magnets l4, wire l5, contacts I in series, socket I by flexible plug wire 16 to socket 6, wires l1, l8 and I9, cam operated contacts T4, wire 20 to the other side of the line 2|. This energizes the coil 13 which attracts its armature establishing a holding circuit through the coil It as follows: Line 9, wire ll, contacts '22, coil l3, wire l5, contacts I, etc.

As long as the perforations representing the group classification oi the card passing the upper brushes and of the card passing the lower brushes are the same, current will pass through the upper brushes, wire 3, resistances l to the lower brushes and the magnets 2 will remain unenergized and consequently the contacts I remain closed. This,

maintains the holding circuit through the minor control relay I3, thus holding open a circuit through the motor control relay 26 and the reset control relay 16 which keeps the tabulating motor TM energized to continuously operate the tabulating machine.

The minor control relay circuit is closed early in the cycle. This circuit extends from the line 9, wire ill, contacts 22, minor relay coil ll, magnet l4, wire i5. Contacts I, plug I, connector I to plug 6, wire ll, switches 46 and I1, contacts ULCl and LCL2 normally closed, wire 20 to line 2|. The contacts UCLJ and LCL2 are generally closed when the upper card lever and the lower card lever are not actuated by cards. The card lever contacts UCLI and LCL3 are generally open as illustrated.

Shortly before the end of the cycle, the upper card lever is actuated by a card about to pass under the upper brushes opening the contacts UCLI. The energization of the minor control relay is maintained at this time by the cam operated contacts T4 which are closed at this time.

As long as the periorations representing the group classification numbers remain the same on the cards passing the upper and lower brushes all of the contacts I are closed maintaining the machine in continuous operation. However, when a disagreement occurs between the group designating perforations on the card passing the upper brushes and those on the card passing the lower brushes it is obvious that current cannot flow through the wire 3 when a perforation on the lower card is under the lower brush, consequently all of the current flows through the wire 5, magnet 2 of the column or columns in which the disagreement occurs, resistance 4, lower brush LB, energizing the magnet as magnets 2 which magnets open their corresponding contacts I. This opens the circuit through relay coil l3 which releases its armature to the action of its spring. This immediately opens the circuit from wire l0 through the magnet I3 and closes a circuit from the line 9, wire I0, contacts 22 (now in the lower position) wire 24, resistance 25, coil of reset magnet 36, motor control relay magnet 26 to the line 2!, energizing the magnets 26 and 36.

The magnet 26 is the motor control magnet well known in the Hollerith type tabulating machine. The contacts 31 of this magnet are in series with the tabulating machine motor TM and are normallyclosed when the magnet 26 is not energized, thus closing the motor circuit in so far as the contacts 3'! are concerned.

Energizatlon oi the magnet 26, under the control of the minor group control relay I! as just described, opens the contacts 31 thus opening the circuit through the motor TM and stopping the machine at the end of the card cycle.

Likewise energization of the reset control magnet 36 opens its contacts 3| to initiate a reset operation in a well known manner. During such reset operation minor totals are printed. Also, during the reset operation the cam operated contacts LPG close again energizing the minor control relay it which relay attracts its armature closing its holding circuit and opening the circuit through magnets 20 and 26. These magnets. as soon as they are deenergized, drop their respective armatures closing contacts 31 and II, the contacts 81 closing the circuit through the tabulating machine motor TM and the contacts 3| shunting the current around the reset clutch to stop the machine upon closure of cam operated contacts PI near the end of the reset cycle as is fully set forth in the patent to C. D. Lake, No. 1,800,392, issued April 14, 1931.

While there has been described the operation of the minor control there is provided also an intermediate control and a major control. The description of the minor control applies equally as well to the intermediate and major controls, with the difference that when a disagreement occurs in the intermediate group classification the machine prints intermediate totals and minor totals, and when a disagreement occurs in the major group classificaiton the machine prints major, intermediate and minor totals.

The major control relay 21 controls the machine upon the occurrence of a change in the major group classification and the intermediate relay 3i controls the machine when a change occurs in the intermediate group classification in substantially the same manner as the minor control relay controls when a change occurs in the minor group classification.

Operatiom-may'or, intermediate and minor controls A description will now be given of an operation of the machine involving major group changes, wherein major, intermediate and minor totals are printed.

It was set forth above that before the machine may be operated to list or tabulate items a resetting operation is made in order to clear the totalizers, etc. This preliminary reset operation is necessary when a new run of cards is started as between runs when there are no cards in the sensing positions to effect a closing of the card lever contacts. It is to be understood, however, that during a run oi cards a change in classification will initiate an automatic reset operation and that at the end of the reset operation thus initiated the machine is controlled automatically to proceed with a tabulating operation. When current is supplied to the main lines 9 and 2| between card runs, through the medium of a convenient switch, the relays 36 and 26 are are energized through the circuit from line 9, wire In, contacts 22, wire 24, relays 36 and 26 to the line 2| thus opening the tabulating motor circuit at contacts 31. Before the machine may be operated for tabulating it is necessary to close the motor circuit at contacts 3'! which is effected by deenergizing relay magnet 26. The preliminary resetting operation is initiated by operation of the "Reset" key, and during this operation the contacts LPG close energizing the relay l3 by the circuit from line 9, wire in, contacts LPG, wire l2, magnets l3 and I4, wire l5, contacts I, plug connection 29, wire 40, contacts UCL3 and LCL2 or Tl, wire 20 to line 2|. Energization of relay l3 reverses the contacts 22 setting up a holding circuit through the relay l3, magnet l4, etc., to line 2|, and, at the same time opens the circuit through the magnets 36 and 26. The closing or contacts 38 shunts the current around the reset clutch magnets thus stopping the operation of the machine under the control ofthe "reset" motor and,

by closing contacts 31, the circuit through the tabulator motor is completed upon closing the auto start contacts thus initiating a tabuiating or listing operation. When setting the machine for major, intermediate and minor controls the switches 8, l6 and 41 are opened to the position in which they appear in dotted lines, and plug connections 32 and 29 are made from the sockets 6a. and 6b respectively to sockets 1 according to the fields of the card to be used for the several controls.

As long as the group control fields of the successive cards passing the upper and lower brushes remain the same the machine is controlled to feed cards continuously past said brushes. It has been described above how a change in the minor group classification controls the machine to reset the minor group totalizer and to print the total standing thereon. It is to be understood that, if the machine is set for all three of the controls and a change in minor group classification only occurs, the minor group totalizer only will be reset. A change in intermediate classification initiates a resetting operation to reset the minor group totalizers and the intermediate group totalizers. A change in major classification eilects a resetting of major, intermediate and minor group totalizers and eifects printing of the corresponding totals. When more than one group of totalizers are to be reset, for instance, upon change in intermediate or major classification, the resetting operations are consecutive, that is, a change in intermediate classification causes a reset operation to reset the minor totalizers which is followed immediately by another reset operation wherein the intermediate totalizers are reset. Inasmuch as the selection of totalizers for resetting has no bearing on the instant invention it is not thought necessary to include a description thereof in the specification.

Let it be assumed that during a tabulating operation a change occurs in the intermediate group classification. When such change occurs there being no hole under the upper brush at the time a hole registers with the lower brush, as explained above, current cannot flow from the upper brush through line 3, resistance 4 to the lower brush, consequently the current flows through wire 5, magnet 2, resistance 4 to the lower brush. This energizes the magnet 2 which opens the corresponding contacts I for the particular column in the intermediate group in which the change occurred. Opening of the contacts I opens the circuit through relay coil 3I which at once drops its armature closing the circuit through wire 42, contacts 38, wire 24, resistance 25, magnets 36 and 26 to line 2|.

Likewise opening of a contact I in the intermediate group opens the circuit through relay coil I3 since, with the switches 8, l6 and 41 open, the minor control circuit extends serially through all of the contacts I. The coil I3 drops its armature at this time.

This energizes the magnets 36 and 26 which open their respective contacts 38 and 31. The contacts 31 effect the opening of the tabulating machine motor circuit upon opening of cam contacts L3 near the end of the tabulating cycle in which the change occurs. At approximately the same time the open contacts 38 effect the energization of the reset motor to initiate a reset operation in a manner fully disclosed in the above mentioned Lake Patent #1,800,392.

During the reset cycle, as set forth above, the contacts LP8, LP1 and LP6 close and open successively. During the time the contacts LP8 are closed the contacts LP1 and LP6 are open. The magnet 21 remains energized, however, since the change in group classification did not occur in themajor group the holding circuit through wire 43 contacts 28, magnet 21, etc., is not opened. This major circuit extends from line 3, wire 43, contacts 28, magnet 21, wire I6, plug 6a, plug connection 32 to socket 1, major contacts I, plug connection 23 from socket 1 to plug 611, wire 40, card lever contacts or T4 contacts, wire to line 2I.

The magnet I3 is not energized during the first reset cycle but this magnet becomes energized near the end of this cycle upon closing of the contacts LP6, consequently the contacts 22 remain in this lower position throughout the major part of the first reset cycle.

While the contacts LP1 are closed the contacts LP6 are open so that at the instant reset cycle the intermediate control magnet 3| is not energized. The magnet 3i released its armature when the intermediate contacts I opened upon group change. This maintains the circuit from line 3, wire 42, contacts 30, wire 2|, magnets 36 and 26, holding these magnets energized to control the machine to make a second reset cycle.

Near the end of the cycle the contacts LP6 close energizing the magnet I3 and also the intermediate counter control magnet Il, however the latter magnet is energized too late to reset the intermediate counter on the first reset cycle. The minor counter only is reset at this cycle under the control of a manually set clutch (not shown) but which is well known.

Energizatlon of the magnet I3 raises its armature but the circuit through the magnets 36 and 26 is maintained by the contacts 38 since the magnet 3| was not energized. This controls the machine to make a second reset cycle continuous with the first. The magnet I4, now energized controls the resetting of the intermediate counter at the second reset cycle by closing contacts 50 thus energizing the intermediate counter clutch magnet 5I to clutch the reset shaft to the counter.

During the second reset cycle the contacts LP8, LP1 and LP6 close in the same order. The contacts LP8 are again ineffective since the contacts LP1 are open, but upon closing of the contacts LP1 the magnet 3| is energized through,

wire I8, contacts 22 (now in their upper position) wire I2, contacts LP1, wire ll, magnet 3I, etc. This magnet now draws its armature to the upper position opening the circuit through the magnets 36 and 26 which drop their armatures to condi- I tion the machine for a tabulating operation. The machine then proceeds to tabulate the next succeeding group oi cards until another change in group classification occurs.

The purpose of the magnet H is similar to that of the magnet ll. The magnet I4 closes a circuit, described above, to energize the zero magnet 5I for the intermediate counter in order that this counter may be reset on resetting operations following intermediate group changes. The magnet lI closes a similar circuit (not shown) to control the resetting of the major counter (not shown) upon change in the major group classification. The circuit controlled by magnet I, and the major counter, have been omitted from the diagram since they are not a part oi the instant invention.

When the switches 8, 46 and 41 are set for major control the minor control circuit extends from line 3, wire I6, contacts 22, magnets I3 and H, wire ll, serially through all of the contacts I, plug connection 2|, wire 40, contacts UCL' and 1.01.2 or T4, wire 22 to line 2i. The intermediate control circuit extends from line 2, wire 42, contacts ll, magnets SI and H, wire ll, plug connection ll, serially through the intermediate and major contacts I, plug connection 2., wire Iii, contacts UCLI and ICL! or T4, wire 20 to line 2i. The major control circuit extends from line I, wire 42 contacts 22, magnet 21, wire ll, plug connection 22, major contacts I, plug connection 22, wire ll, contacts UCL3 and LCL2 or T4, wire 2. to line 2|.

As explained above, when the machine is tabulating cards the magnets II, II and 21 are energized through their holding circuits and the contacts 22, II and 28 are in reverse positions to those in which they are shown. When a disagreement occurs in the major field of the cards being analyzed and a contact i of the major group opens obviously all three of the control circuits are opened, deenergizing magnets ll, 2i, and 21. These magnets drop their armatures closing the circuits from line 9, over wires ll, 42 and 43, contacts 22, 20 and 28, wire 24, magnets 36 and 26 to line 2i initiating a reset operation as described above. Before a tabulating operation can be effected each of the magnets II, II and 21 must be energized to reverse their respective contacts 22, 30 and 28. This is effected by a series of successive reset operations at which the minor intermediate and major totalizers are reset.

Near the end of the end of each of these reset cycles the cam contacts LPB, LPI and LPG close and open successively no two of these contacts being closed at the same time. Therefore the magnets II and 21 are not energized at the first reset operation. Upon closure of contacts LPG, however, magnet I3 becomes energized and sets up a holding circuit for itself through the contacts 22 now reversed. The contacts 20 and 2! still in their lower positions control the machine to enter a second resetting operation continuous with the first and during which the minor totalizers are reset. Near the end of this operation the contacts LPB, LP! and LPG again successively close and open. The contacts LPB being open when LP! are closed the magnet 21 again remains unenergized. But, upon closure of contacts LP! the magnet 3| is energized by a circuit extending through wire l0, contacts 22 now in upper position, wire l2, contacts LP'I, wire 44. magnets 23 and II, wire l1, plug connection it, contacts I, plug connection 29, wire 40, wire l9, contacts Tl, wire 20 to line 2|. The magnet 3i reverses contacts 3!! setting up a holding circuit for itself.

The magnet 21 being unenergized and the contacts 2! still in their lower position still maintains the circuit through magnets 26 and 26 thus conditions the machine for a third reset operation continuous with the second. During the third reset operation the major totalizers are reset and when. near the end of this operation, the contacts LP! close the magnet 21 is energized the circuit extending as follows: line 0, wire 42, contacts 20 now in upper position, wire 44, contacts LPI, wire I, magnet 21, wire I i, plug connection 22, major contacts I, plug connections 20, wire ll, contacts Tl, wire 2| to line 2i. The magnet now energized, reverses contacts 22 opening the circuit through magnets N and 20 which drop their armatures closing contacts 2. and 21. This, as set forth above, conditions the machine to proceed with tabulating operations.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic control system for a record controlled machine including in combination a plurality of sets of sensing devices for simultaneously sensing a plurality of successively fed record cards, a plurality of control circuits extending serially through corresponding sensing devices of the two sets, a plurality of shunt circuits each shunt circuit extending through the sensing device for one column of one only of the successively fed cards being sensed, a series of contacts, an electromagnet in each of said shunt circuits adapted to be energized upon non-agreement of the perforations in successively fed cards to operate said contacts, and an electromagnet in series with said contacts adapted to be deenergized upon opening of one or more of said contacts to control the operation of the machine.

2. An automatic control system for a record controlled machine including in combination a plurality of sets of sensing devices for simultaneously sensing a plurality of successively fed record cards, a plurality of control circuits extending serially through corresponding sensing devices of the two sets, a plurality of shunt circuits each shunt circuit extending through the sensing device for one column of one only of the successively fed cards being sensed, electromagnets in said shunt circuits adapted to be energized upon non-agreement of the perforations in successive cards, contacts operated by the electro-magnets, and a magnet in series with the contacts to control the operation of the machine.

3. An automatic control system for a record controlled machine including in combination a plurality of sets of sensing devices for simultaneously sensing a plurality of successively fed record cards, a plurality of control circuits extending serially through corresponding sensing devices of the two sets, a plurality of shunt circuits each shunt circuit extending through the sensing device for one column of one only of the successively fed cards being sensed and through an electro-magnet, a circuit extending serially through a control magnet and a plurality of contacts, there being a pair of contacts for each column, one of said pairs of contacts being adapted to be opened by the electro-magnet upon nonagreement of the perforations in any one or more columns of successively fed cards being sensed, and a plurality of circuits controlled by the con trol magnet to modify the operation of the machine.

BENJAMIN MATHEW DURFEE. 

